Vision Doctor

Blog By: Calli Connor, Fisher's Office

“We had a patient come in who has been a Dr. Tavel patient for years. She mostly wears contacts lenses because she absolutely hates wearing her glasses as her prescription is so different for each eye. This patient actually had no Rx in one eye and was extremely farsighted in her other eye, making one of her eyes look extremely magnified when she did wear glasses. So I explained to her that there are special lenses called Kodak Aspheric lenses that will help lessen the magnification on her eyes and balances the lenses out for her comfort. The patient agreed to try out these lenses with a plastic Ted Baker frame (the Ted Baker B825-Razor Fish/ Clear Brown), and upon receiving her glasses she was so excited that she went around the office showing all of the patients how great her glasses looked, and how her eyes looked the same! She now wears her glasses more than her contacts and can see clearly while also having a new fashionable look.”

Glasses are a great fashion accessory especially for back-to-school and the start of fall.  Find a pair and change your look today at Dr. Tavel!
 

Contact lenses-a harmful medical device?  Apparently so according to a study released by the U.S.  Food and Drug Administration last week, contact lenses topped the list of medical devices causing injuries to children.  About 34,000 eye problems related to contacts were reported in the study which said 70,000 children go to emergency rooms each year from injuries and complications from medical devices.

Contact lenses, placed directly on the eye, were reported to cause infections and eye abrasions in children coming into the emergency room.  Injuries such as these are usually preventable with correct contact lens wear and compliance.  Contact lenses are overwhelmingly popular with younger crowds as they don’t make a sometimes dramatic fashion statement like glasses can.

Complying with contact lens wear is one of the ways injuries like those reported can be omitted.  Routinely cleaning lenses and not wearing them for prolonged periods of time reduces any risk for injury but sometimes tasks like these prove difficult for young contact wearers.  Allaboutvision.com offers a handy guide for contact basics and how to take care of your eyes when wearing contact lenses.

Children though may do best with daily disposable lenses that are easier to maintain as cleaning lenses is removed from their routine.  Lenses like these however cannot be worn for extended periods of time and must be thrown away.  Talking with your eye care doctor about lifestyle and expectations for your contact lenses can help choose which type is best for you and leave you injury free!
 

Blog by Deb Lahee, Kokomo Office

"One of my long-time patients was recently in to update his glasses.  He and his wife have been coming to our office for years because, even though we are not direct providers for their vision plan, they believe they receive both the best service and the best value with Dr. Tavel.  He had his last eye examination with his ophthalmologist in September of last year but hadn't chosen to fill the prescription until now because he was told there was very little change in his prescription and he likely wouldn't even notice a difference.  He decided to inquire about new glasses, though, because he thought it was time for a new look.  In talking about his needs and wants for the new glasses, he shared that his eyes were getting very tired with extended periods of close-detailed work, but he attributed that just to "old age" because his prescription hadn't changed. 

I recommended filling the prescription with the new Kodak Unique progressive lenses in a Trivex material.  The Unique is a state-of-the-art digitally surfaced progressive that provides a customized lens for the patient's Rx and frame selection, optimizing the precision of the prescription.  It enhances visual clarity over standard progressive lenses very much like BluRay improves the viewing experience of our favorite movies over the standard DVD.  The Trivex material would provide the sharpest possible optics as well as be light weight for comfort for this patient’s vision needs.  Adding the Kodak Clean'n'Clear anti-reflective coating helps to eliminate annoying glare and reflections and the Instashades treatment for optimal comfort both indoors and out would provide the best technology in lenses for his lifestyle.  He selected one of our TuraFlex frames, a "bendable" titanium style, for both durability and comfort with minimal weight.  I knew these recommendations would make an excellent pair of glasses for him, but I was pleased by how truly delighted he was when he received the new eyewear.  He said, 'If I had known how much difference this new technology could make, I would have gotten new glasses months ago.  I'm just sorry I waited!'"  

See what Dr. Tavel technology can do for your next pair of glasses and see better today!
 

School buses will start making their daily stops very soon here in Indiana as school doors open and summer officially ends.  For many students in Indianapolis school begins the second week of August and for many others like those in Anderson, Bloomington or Columbus, Indiana school will start shortly afterwards.

As backpacks are being brought out of their summer vacation spots and dusted off or newly purchased, many school supplies are being purchased to use for the long days of studying ahead.  Sports practices have begun which typically coincide with routine physicals to ensure student athletes are healthy to participate.  But what about the health of students eyes and routine eye exams?

Overlooked at times in this rush for back-to-school, vision eye centers and eye examinations should top the list for returning students as they prepare to hit the books and playgrounds for the school year.  Their eyes will need to be able to focus on academic material on the chalk board, text book, or computer screen.

A children’s eye exam can help detect if glasses or contacts are needed for reading or even prolonged use of a computer screen.  Nearly 1 in 4 students has a vision problem that could hinder their performance in school. Vision problems can be detected by a  member of Dr. Tavel’s team of eyecare doctors during a children’s eye exam and fixed with glasses or contacts.

Find a Dr. Tavel location near your school and make sure your student’s supply of sight is ready for school to begin!

 

Peanuts and cracker jacks…two things historically associated with baseball as well as mentioned in the ever popular song, “Take Me Out To The Ball Game.”  I don’t know about the cracker jacks or even the peanuts for a baseball game now a days as I’m more into ice cream personally but I do know if I am heading to a baseball park for an afternoon game I will wear my hat and sunglasses to block the sun (and to best see the baseball players of course!) 

Baseball players are looking like me wearing both hats and sunglasses when on the field to block the sun.  More and more baseball players are ditching the eye black paint to reduce glare from the sun and are putting on polarized sunglasses that not only reduce glare from the sun when trying to catch a ball but also protect the eyes from harmful UV-rays.  Polarized sunglasses have become the “in” piece of equipment for professional and amateur baseball players across the nation to wear during the many sunny games played throughout the spring and summer months.

Polarized sunglasses for baseball players tend to have the following qualities: strong UV protection (95%) to block the harmful sun rays, amber or grey tint lenses so that players can see balls mid-air or players clearly in the bright sun or on cloudy days, and polycarbonate lens material so that the glasses are shatterproof.   MLB players do not have any restrictions as to what types of sunglasses to wear but many wear those with the above qualities with wrap-like temples so that they stay on during moments of extreme movement or play.

Purifier polarized lenses, exclusive to Dr. Tavel, have all of these qualities and would be the best choice for any Indiana baseball star or fan (like myself) as protecting your eyes should be a top priority when you take yourself and others “out to the ball game.”

Dr. Tavel's Major League Give-Away is still in play!  Sign up to WIN tickets today at any Dr. Tavel location or here!

Blog by: Terrie Jackson, South Office

“I had a patient come in to our South Indianapolis Dr. Tavel Vision Center and order two pair of glasses, one for everyday use and one Purifier polarized pair for prescription sunglasses. The frames that the patient came in with were too small of frames for his face so the frames left indentions on his face.  This patient came into our office very upset about their current pair of eyeglasses (and rightly so!)

Together we discussed the issue and I told him that the frames he had chosen were too small for his face shape and would naturally leave indentions.  I showed him two larger frame options that would be a better fit for him to try.  Knowing what will work for a patient’s face shape and style is my job as an optician.  Gathering data from each individual patient is extremely important for me to help patients choose the right kind of eye wear for their needs.
 
This patient chose to go with the larger frames I suggested and this solved his problem of facial indentions.  Now this patient visits regularly to share with us how much his family and friends like his glasses and how he refers them to Dr. Tavel South.  We are happy to have this patient's needs met and are thrilled to have solved his vision problems.  It is problems like these that we work to solve each day at Dr. Tavel!”

Talk with a Dr. Tavel Optician today to best address your eye care needs for your face shape, lifestyle, and fashion!
 

Blog By: Lauren Tavel

End of July, beginning of August… it’s definitely school supply or dorm room shopping season. For those recent high school graduates, not only are many of you shopping for your first year of college, you’re shopping for a new home away from home. I learned this last year as I moved into dorms at Indiana University Bloomington (IUB) to begin my freshman year.  While I really wanted my dorm to look cool and fashionable, I learned quickly that you also want it to be practical.  After all, you will be doing a lot of your “living” in your dorm room like waking up for 8 am classes, hanging laundry, watching movies, eating snacks, studying late at night for midterms and writing ten-page papers for hours in a pretty compact space.  You want to make the most of it and fill your room with practical things.

So as important as it is to get plastic drawers, note cards, pens, a shower caddy along with towels, pillow shams and comforter, one of the most important pieces of advice I can offer an incoming student would be to get your eyes checked before school starts to help you see your awesome dorm room and of course all of your text books clearly. At IUB (and many other universities) the library is open practically 24/7, with few exceptions. I cannot count the number of nights I have spent sitting on the quiet study floor for hours staring at my computer screen and reading. There never seems to be enough hours in the day to get everything I wanted accomplished and many hours of sleep were sacrificed for good grades. However the greatest time investment I made last summer was getting an eye examination by a Dr. Tavel optometrist. From getting a back-to-school eye examination, I was prescribed for glasses to help my eyes stay focused when they are tired to help avoid headaches when I’m studying late hours.  One of the best school supplies I bought were some fun glasses to fit my style. So while getting to your closest office supply store first for the best deals on pens, folders and planners before they run out is definitely a top priority with back to school shopping, be sure to stop in to Dr. Tavel and visit an eye doctor so you too can pick out the best looking eyeglasses and premium contact lenses before you go back to school.

Starting today at all Dr. Tavel locations you can get two pairs of glasses and an eye exam for $99.98-one of the best Back-To-School deals in Indiana! Get ready for a great year!
 

Indianapolis is race car country.  It would seem that the entire state of Indiana, fitting as it is the crossroads of America, is infatuated with racing of some sort.  Coming from Bloomington, I have experienced racing of the bike kind as I have cheered on friends riding around the historic cinder bike track for the annual Little 500 race.  Now, having made the move to Indianapolis I am in the home of two of NASCAR’s largest races and the historical Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

I have yet to experience NASCAR racing in the capital city though with its known fun of camping, eating, and enjoyment of beverages of choice.  This weekend however I am in luck as a race less well known to learning race fans like myself, the Brickyard 400, takes place on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  Events begin Thursday as the camping lots are open for visitors and official practice begins Friday.  The weekend boasts Qualifications held on Saturday with the actual race taking place Sunday afternoon.

Starting in 1994, Brickyard 400 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup race 400-miles long with 160 laps around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  This race boasts more than 250,000 fans attending annually making it the most attended NASCAR event.

A very popular sport, NASCAR racing requires certain equipment be it for the drivers/teams or the race fans.  One such piece of equipment is eyewear, specifically sunglasses.  You rarely see a driver outside of his or her car without shades covering their eyes.  Same should be for the fans this weekend as shading your eyes can help you see all of the action on the track better as well as protect you from harmful UV-rays that can cause vision damage.  Better yet, Purifier polarized sunglasses would be my best piece of equipment advice for fans this weekend as these lenses block glare on the track.

Don't miss a thing this racing weekend by wearing your sunglasses!

Golf fans around the world watched anxiously this past weekend as the best golfers joined together at the home of golf, St. Andrews Links for the 150th Anniversary Open Championship.  Weather troubled the golfers and fans as play was suspended for 40-mile hour winds during the tournament and rain soaked the course.    Grey days, typical of Scotland, kept the golfers company as they played in this historic tournament.

Even though the sun didn’t shine too much on St. Andrews, champion Louis Oosthusizen did not seem to mind as he won the championship by 7 shots beating Lee Westwood who took second at nine under.  Oosthusizen played a cool game and looked cool while doing it wearing polarized sunglasses. 

Sunglasses on the golf course are not nearly as popular as on the baseball diamond but those golfers that do wear glasses have the advantage of protecting their eyes and seeing the ball amidst the sun or the clouds (like this weekend) with polarized lenses.  Purifier polarized lenses help a golfer see in the distance after teeing off or as he or she putts in.

The benefits of wearing sunglasses far outweigh any cost especially, on the golf course as golf can be played in a wide range of weather (as seen this past weekend) and protecting your eyes can help your game and your vision.  According to Allaboutvision.com, amber, green, or gray tinted polarized lenses are golf specific when it comes to sports sunglasses.  Create a pair of Purifier polarized sunglasses today and increase your game on the greens just like Oosthusizen!

A Dr. Tavel patient tells of his experience getting an eye exam:

"I visited the Dr. Tavel Vision Center in Fishers, Indiana. I had scheduled an appointment for an eye examination and I wanted to get new eyeglasses. I was not necessarily worried about going in for an eye exam as I have always had bad eyes, but I haven't had an eye examination in a few years and the last time I went to an optometrist in Indianapolis (this was my first time at Dr.Tavel) was a fairly bad experience.

Once I arrived and filled out the mandatory paper work, the doctor, Dr. Kautzman, invited me back to the exam room. He was simple and to the point, but presented a fairly relaxed examination. I didn't feel pressured or rushed to answer his questions. He also was more than willing to answer my questions about each test during the examination. My Dr. Tavel experience was relaxed and laid back, but it still maintained a high level of professionalism, which led me to believe Dr. Kautzman had done his job correctly, and that I was walking out with the right pair of lenses.

After the examination, one of the friendly opticians helped me choose the right frames. She offered numerous ideas, and asked a few questions to help present a few brands of frames that fit the style I was seeking. All in all, my time with Dr. Tavel in Fishers was a strong experience that was relaxed and comfortable. I am a customer for life!"


Have you had an experience like this one getting an eye exam?  Tell us about your Dr. Tavel experience here!
 

I want your love, and I want your revenge; You and me could write a bad romance.  Infamous song lyrics by pop-music artist Lady Gaga to the global chart topping hit song “Bad Romance;” a song that has helped make Lady Gaga one of the most popular artists today all over the world. 

Tonight at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Gaga fans will get to see the American star perform in a show that according to the star’s website will still have the disco balls, hot pants, sequins, and stilettos, known favorites of Gaga, but with a more fine tuned approach and a fierce structure. 

Hoosiers are bound to hear the hit, “Bad Romance” tonight, a song that has many young fans risking their eye sight to mimic the star’s music video cartoon eyes.  Gaga’s eyes in the song’s music video appear to be large and circular, inspired from Japanese cartoons “Anime” and young girls everywhere are buying illegal contacts to make this fashion statement.

Called “Circle Contact Lenses,” these contacts cover a portion of the whites of the eye making the eye appear large and round like a cartoon’s.  According to an ABC News report, these lenses are not FDA approved which has many eye care doctors concerned about their popularity and usage, especially among young Gaga fans who are illegally buying the colored lenses online for $20 and changing them in and out like earrings.

Wearers of these illegal contacts run the risk of potentially losing their eye sight if worn for extended amounts of time or if fitted improperly which could scratch the cornea damaging vision. It is impossible to have these “Circle Contact Lenses” fitted properly as they are bought online and not prescribed through an optometrist.  Quite the risk for making a fashion statement, but one that many are making as they sing along Rah, rah ah, ah, ah; Roma, roma, ma; Gaga, ooh, la, la; Want your bad romance.

I am not a glasses wearer (yet).  My family all wears some form of prescription eye wear so I expect to someday join them and need glasses of my own.  Growing up I loved to play dress up as many young girls do and I always loved putting on glasses to get into “character” which was often a teacher or actress of some sort.  Within my sister’s and my costume closet were two pairs of lensless glasses that helped us play the parts required in our shows, I loved them.  They added flare to our outfits and helped us feel more important and real in our roles. 

I recently went back to my dress up days and tried on Axebo and Laguiole frames, French designed and inspired frames found exclusively at Dr. Tavel locations.  Before I tried these new frames out for style, I checked into their history.  Created by Denis Buffard in the 1990s, these frames have been dressing up their owners for over a decade across the world.  Buffard’s frames are known for their modernity and finesse and sometimes extreme temple designs.  Temple designs and colors are distinctive with these frames as materials are used in creative ways such as wavy or braided metal, contrasting colors, or fun shapes.  Although  many Axebo and Laguiole frames are rather unique in design, some of Buffard’s frames make more subtle statements with many basic  styles available making these frames fit a variety of personalities.

The pair I tried on for style would be considered unique in design and it had two distinct features I really liked.  I modeled an Axebo Lectra frame in purple and green.  The first feature I liked was the obvious two tone colors and the fun design on the green temple of this frame.  The colors were bright and added some flare to my basic office outfit.  The next feature, not obvious from just looking at the frame, was the ability to manually change the temple pieces from purple to green back to purple and likewise-reverse temples!  It was easy to maneuver the temples pieces and fun-something I could do during the day to mix up my outfit or for certain occasions.  Other colors in this frame are orange/deeper orange and an orange/red style. Below is a photo sequence of reversing the temples to change colors.

I would definitely consider these frames as they can contribute to any outfit as well as dress up an outfit with their ability to change colors.  They were also very comfortable.  Visit a Dr. Tavel location today to try on a pair for yourself!  Schedule an eye examination and add a pair of Axebos and Laguioles to your fashion (or costume) closet!


 

Batter up!  As one of America’s favorite pastimes, baseball is in full swing this summer across the nation in way of little league teams, minor league teams like our Indianapolis Indians, and of course the famous major league teams that make up the MLB.  Although Indiana doesn’t have a MLB team of our own, our surrounding states do and many Hoosier’s root for teams like the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds or St. Louis Cardinals among the 30 teams in the league.

Who do you root for? 

Catch up on your MLB history with these facts:

• MLB organizes the National and American Leagues of baseball
• MLB was founded in 1869 with the first professional team: the Cincinnati Red Stockings
• The National League has been in existence since 1876
• The American League has been in existence since 1901
• There are 162 scheduled games each season, additional games can be played with tie-breakers and postseason play
• Babe Ruth holds single season records in amount of runs (177), total bases (457), and extra base hits (119)

Dr. Tavel wants to take you out to the ball game this summer and will be giving four lucky Dr. Tavel fans tickets to an area MLB game of their choice!  Winners can choose tickets for the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, or St. Louis Cardinals.  To enter to WIN the Dr. Tavel Major League Give-Away, go to any Dr. Tavel location around Indiana or to www.drtavel.com/baseball.

A valid email address is required to win.  Hurry up so you don’t strike out, series ends September 3!

Remember important eyewear like Dr. Tavel Purifier sunglasses for days at the ballpark.  Protecting your eyes is just as important as protecting your skin! 
 

Aviators have landed!  Aviator sunglasses are quite the frequent flyers among sunglass wearers today and have been since their creation despite their design being 73 years old this year.  The teardrop slanted sunglasses were first created by Ray-Ban in 1937 issued for U.S. military aviators and other personnel to help reduce glare in the air and on the ground.  Today, aviator sunglass are still issued to military pilots and worn by military personnel, yet their design increasingly flies high with the general public as these shades appeal to a wide-range of sunglass wearers.   Men and women, young and old alike are seen in the media, in sports arenas, at concerts, in shopping malls, you name it, wearing aviators.
 
Loved by youth since the 1960s, aviators give a “cool” look when worn as they shade the eyes with their teardrop design and today come in a variety of lens and frame colors.  Movies like “Top Gun” spurred the popularity of these sunglasses among men and women in the 1980s and in the 2000s aviators have taken on new meaning in the fashion industry.  Versatile in appeal, aviators add a distinct look to any outfit for their wearer.  Celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker, Brittany Spears, and Lenny Kravitz all have been spotted with these shades on.  Besides being a fashion staple, aviators are a fan favorite among sports enthusiasts as their wrap style covers the face and blocks harmful UV-rays omitted by the sun.
 
Dr. Tavel is sporting these popular shades this summer with a number of styles and brands available to any eye wear patient.  You can fly high by wearing Dr. Tavel aviator sunglasses to ensure your eyes are covered with UV-blocking lenses that can be made in any color (even metallic/mirrored), fit any prescription and made with any material at any Dr. Tavel location. 

This trend of aviator sunglasses continues to fly high in the sky among pilots as well as any sunglasses wearer.  Is that you?  Cover your eyes with the most popular sunglass style of all time!

Blog by: Lauren Tavel

Last weekend as I was driving to Evansville to visit a friend of mine, I realized how awesome Purifier polarized sunglasses are and would have been during my drive. My drive from Indianapolis to Evansville was about 3 and-a-half hours and when I left around 5:00PM the sun was beginning to set, making the glare on my car and the roads absolutely miserable! Why all the glare?  According to howstuffworks.com writer Jeff Tyson in “How Sunglasses Work," most of the glares that cause us to wear sunglasses come from flat, horizontal surfaces, such as water or a road.

When light strikes the surface, the reflected light waves are polarized, restricted to one direction, in order to fit the angle of the surface. So US-41 for example, a flat highway, produces a lot of polarized light that blinds me as I drive wearing my (not glare blocking) un-polarized sunglasses.  Purifier polarized lenses in sunglasses are made so that only vertically polarized light can enter thus eliminating any glare-they are the only sunglass lens to do this.  When driving wearing Purifier polarized sunglasses helps to increase reaction time by 40% compared to just wearing sunglasses that increase reaction time by 20%-they make a difference.

howstuffworks.com explains that many sunglasses advertised as being polarized to block glare actually are not.  Want to see if your sunglasses are polarized?  There's a simple test you can perform. Find a reflective surface and hold the glasses so that you are viewing the surface through one of the lenses. When you slowly rotate the glasses to a 90-degree angle, you can see if the reflective glare diminishes or increases. You will see the glare slowly dwindle if the sunglasses are polarized.  Besides reducing glare, Purifier polarized sunglasses help shield the eyes from harmful UV-rays on sunny days and not so sunny days. Next time I’m on the road, I’ll be sure to pack Purifier polarized sunglasses to omit the glare.

This month, Dr. Tavel is offering 50% off Purifier polarized lenses for your sunglasses with your next purchase of a frame. This coupon can be found on our Facebook page!

Check out our new fashionable (Purifier polarized capable) sunglasses online at drtavel.com or come in to any of our stores around Indiana, and find a pair of gorgeous sunglasses today.

Being new to the optical industry I have faced quite the learning curve when it comes to the vocabulary used with frames, styles, lenses-just about everything.  Coming into the field, however, I do know that glasses can make or break an outfit sometimes and can truly be worn as a fashion statement.  A pair of glasses can help define an owner’s personality as they help them see their world and while doing so the glasses give the owner a way to express themselves.  The lenses technically help the owner see and the frames hold the lenses and together it makes a pair of glasses.  Voila!

Simple right?  It would seem but there is a lot more that goes into getting a pair of glasses; it goes beyond any frame style or lens prescription and it starts with each patient’s personal lifestyle.  Something each Dr. Tavel patient completes upon coming to an office is a case history form.  This form would seem to be a standard data collection form found at any medical office but upon looking further it is not. 

Glasses or contacts are something you wear (usually) every day; they impact your physical appearance as others see you and they help you see clearly.  To this end, the Visual Needs Assessment found on the Dr. Tavel case history form is valuable to fill out completely as it asks questions like “what type of work do you do?” and “what are your hobbies?”  Answering these questions with as much detail as possible is key to help ensure you get appropriate eyewear fit for your lifestyle.  For instance, I love to run outside and will soon be training for a marathon.  Writing that on the case history form and telling my optician helps me learn about Dr. Tavel Purifier sunglasses that will reduce any glare I see while training. 

“Do you participate in: basketball, football, watching TV, driving, etc?”  You bet I do, so by marking these down on the form I can have another conversation about my lifestyle with the optician.  Finally “Do you use a computer, power tools, welding/industrial equipment, chemicals, other?”  On this one I honestly only use a computer daily (although at times when I feel quite adventurous I attempt to use a power drill to fix something in my apartment).  Answering this question helps my optician know what kind of things I’ll need my glasses for so in my case a specific pair of computer glasses would be ideal for my extended screen time at work.

Filling out the Dr. Tavel case history form and talking about these kinds of questions with my optician is clearly imperative to make certain I choose the right type of glasses fit for my life.  It also helps Dr. Tavel provide me the Best Eyecare, Best Eyewear….and that is a promise from the doctor!